Unique transparent design stands out and comfortable
Energetic, balanced sound for all genres; low distortion
Great ANC for low-end noise; natural transparency
Fast USB-C and Qi wireless charging
Cons:
Bass and treble not customizable enough for some
Fit can be less secure for heavy exercise
Case is bulky, not pocket-friendly, and prone to scratches
Mic struggles in loud outdoor noise
ANC isn’t best for loud/high sounds and transparency can lag
Verdict:
The Nothing Ear is a unique pair of earbuds with its transparent design and surprisingly good ANC and battery life for the price. If you want value for your money, this is a great option. If you're after class-leading specs or extreme sound profiles, you might want to look elsewhere. But for most people, it’s worth it—especially if you care about style, balanced sound, and comfort.
The transparent look is what grabs your attention. That is one of Nothing’s features that sets it apart from the rest. Also hailed as a better value for your money compared to other similarly priced options. We’re going to take a look at whether the Nothing Ear is worth it or not in this review.
Sound Quality
Sound Pros
The sound profile, designed by Teenage Engineering, is very balanced and clean. In more detail, its sound profile can be described as energetic with crisp highs, defined bass, and forward mids.
The Nothing Ear is also great if you like listening to all genres of music because it handles all music without a particular frequency being overemphasized.
The sound quality of the Nothing Ear is much better compared to other competitors with similar prices.
If you love blasting music at 80 to even 90 percent, you’ll still get remarkably low distortion.
Sound Cons
However, one of the downsides is the soundstage limitations. If you don’t know what soundstage is, it’s the imaginary three-dimensional space that a headphone or audio device can create.
So, if you enjoy a wide soundstage, the Nothing Ear won’t give you what Sony or Sennheiser product would.
If you prefer heavy bass or super sharp treble, you might feel disappointed. The customization may feel restricted because you can’t change it as much as on other earbuds/headphones. But for most people, the default audio is fine.
Comfort & Fit
Comfort & Fit Pros
The Nothing Ear is extremely comfortable. It’s just 5g per bud with a small profile, so not everyone sees it. This is great if you frequently get pressure points or soreness from other earbuds (applicable to average ears).
For comfort, make sure to wear the right seal tips that Nothing provides, so you get the most comfortable fit if you choose to buy them.
Also, the ventilation in the Nothing Ear is good but not remarkable. Ventilation means small vents in your earbuds that help reduce discomfort.
The fit works well for you if you're walking or moving your head moderately. These earbuds generally stay in place.
Comfort & Fit Cons
Even though the fit is good for most, if you're exercising or moving a lot, these might not lock in securely.
Also, if the seal tip doesn’t fit you well, the sound quality and stability will drop a lot.
You might feel mild soreness after 3–4 hours, but that’s rare. If your ears are shaped differently, you might struggle to find a perfect seal.
ANC & Transparency
ANC & Transparency Pros
The ANC is highly effective for certain sounds. It works well for dulling low-end rumbles like bus or distant traffic, or AC. The Transparency mode delivers an “open ear” effect. This means it has natural transparency with voices not sounding robotic or overly bright.
There is also minimal hiss in either the ANC or transparency, which is perfect if you're listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or studying.
ANC, along with adaptive mode, is customizable. You can adjust the ANC strength at 3 levels and fine-tune suppression, including presets like class, train, or coffee shop.
ANC & Transparency Cons
The Nothing Ear ANC isn’t industry-leading, so you’ll still hear loud sounds like crying babies, high pitches, or just noisy environments.
Also, turning on ANC sometimes changes the music by boosting the bass or subduing high notes. That can make the sound feel marginally less spacious, which you might not like.
If laggy transparency bugs you, the Nothing Ear can lag more than Apple or Sony earbuds. Also, if you're in a busy café or station, the overall loudness can be distracting.
Battery Life / Charging / Case
Battery/Charging/Case Pros
Battery life should be enough to last a full day. Compared to other brands, it’s above average.
The Nothing Ear without ANC can last up to 9 hours, and 5 hours with ANC. With the charging case, you get up to 40 hours total, which is a major selling point. Very few brands compete with that.
Charging-wise, it supports Qi wireless and USB-C. A full charge takes 1.5 hours, and just 10 minutes of charging gives you up to 2.6 hours (without ANC).
Battery/Charging/Case Cons
You may find battery life drops faster than advertised.
The case design isn’t as pocketable as AirPods-style cases. Its horizontal, wide shape (which I like the look of) makes it harder to fit in tight pockets or small handbags.
Also, wireless charging can cause the case to get warm.
The case’s transparent finish is also prone to fine scratches if you don’t treat it carefully.
Microphone & Call Quality
Mic/Call Quality Pros
The triple-mic setup is designed for clear voice capture and background noise suppression. This means you can be heard over moderate background noise.
It includes AI noise reduction, which helps filter out more noise, like traffic or keyboard clicks.
Wind noises are also decently blocked, like indoor fans or small breezes. So when you're talking, others won’t hear those minor sounds.
The voice clarity is especially good in quiet rooms—you’ll sound better than with most earbuds at this price.
Mic/Call Quality Cons
Loud outdoor noises like wind or close-up traffic might still overpower your voice. That can cause digital “chewing” or muffling.
The voice timbre might sound “thinner” or compressed compared to premium audio gear.
There can be occasional call drops due to wireless interference, and volume may be inconsistent if the buds are loosely fitted in your ears.
Build Quality / Design
Build/Design Quality Pros
This is one of the best-looking earbuds, in my opinion. I really like the transparent look. The case hinge and magnets feel strong and robust, making it less likely to pop open if dropped. Cough AirPods.
The IP54/55 rating offers protection against sweat, light rain, and some dust—enough for you unless you're constantly caught in heavy rain.
Again, the design just gives me good vibes.
Build/Design Quality Cons
The transparent case is very prone to surface scratches, dust, and fingerprint smudges—even with the raised bezels.
If you're eco-conscious, you'll like that it's built with recycled materials and comes in greener packaging.
The ergonomics feel good, but the case is harder to fit in thin pockets or hold in one hand due to its wide shape. The design is love-it-or-hate-it, and if you're like me, you're probably a fan.
Verdict
Overall, the Nothing Ear is one of the most unique earbuds out there. It has a cool design and solid ANC and Transparency for the price—not class-leading, but good.
Battery life is average, not great if you use your earbuds more than 9 hours a day without ANC or more than 4 hours with it. Thankfully, the charging case gives you up to 40 hours, which is excellent.
If mic quality in noisy places is a priority for you, the Nothing Ear may not be worth it. Otherwise, it’s good enough.
The case is stylish, but not the most portable if you often wear tight pants or carry small bags.
In conclusion, the Nothing Ear is worth it for most people, but what do you think? Tell me in the comments and share this post.
Sources
Bernath, C. (2024, August 7). Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Nothing Ear: Save your money. SoundGuys. https://www.soundguys.com/samsung-galaxy-buds3-pro-vs-nothing-ear-121142/
Bernath, C. (2025, May 15). Nothing Ear vs Apple AirPods Pro 2. SoundGuys. https://www.soundguys.com/nothing-ear-vs-apple-airpods-pro-2-115210/
Dunkley, L. (2024, April 27). Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Nothing Ear: Which noise-canceling buds win? Tom’s Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/earbuds/apple-airpods-pro-2-vs-nothing-ear
Gideon, T. (2024, April 18). Nothing Ear (2024) review. PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nothing-ear-2024
Lew, P. K. (2025, January 15). Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro Review vs the REST! Loud and Wireless. https://www.loudnwireless.com/blog/soundcore-liberty-4-pro-review-vs-the-rest-nothing-earfun
Schoon, B. (2024a, October 17). Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Nothing Ear and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. 9to5Google. https://9to5google.com/2024/10/17/pixel-buds-pro-2-vs-nothing-ear-and-galaxy-buds-3-pro/
Schoon, B. (2024b, November 26). Review: Nothing Ear, Ear (a), and Ear (open). 9to5Google. https://9to5google.com/nothing-ear-review/
1 Comments
dammmnnn im pretty impressed
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